ASU employee, 2 graduates injured during graduation party on Friday

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Two recent Alabama State University graduates as well as one of the college's employees were seriously injured when they fell from a second-story landing that collapsed during a graduation party on Friday, according to ASU Communications Representative Kenneth Mullinax.

Graduates Joe Smith and Constance Doran, along with ASU employee Carrie Perdue and three others, were injured during the accident. Smith is currently listed in stable condition after receiving surgery at UAB. Meanwhile, Doran was treated and released at a local hospital. Perdue, along with the two others injured, remains hospitalized.

Since the accident, Alabama State University has opened the Hornets Unifying through Giving fund to help support those injured and their families.

“We want to provide whatever support that we can to the families as they try to recover from this tragic incident,” said Zillah Fluker, associate vice president for Development. “Because of initial donations, we have been able to help with hotel expenses for out-of-town family members, as well as coordinate with Gourmet Services Inc., to provide meals for the mother of Joe Smith for the duration of her stay with her son at UAB.”